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Leaf Miner
Genus Stigmella*
36.4055, -93.7375
Field Notes
Description:
If you see this in a leaf, it is called a "Leaf Miner." It could be any of a variety of larvae that are born between the upper and lower skin of the leaf. With that as protection, they eat their way through the middle of the leaf until they're ready to leave.
See how the trail gets bigger? There's a gap at the end of the bigger side where you can see where it was at when it decided to leave the leaf. (And of course you can see on the tiny end where it was born.)
Habitat:
This one was found on an oak leaf in the Ozark Highlands, found on a ridge and trail high above Eureka Springs. It had already left the leaf, leaving only the trail behind.
Notes:
*Stigmella genus of moth is a guess based on someone else's input. I am beyond fascinated that there are people who can look at a trail like this and give an educated guess like that. Someday I hope I'll have that kind of knowledge, too.
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